Ring the bells and hang the mistletoe, Collective. It’s that time again. There are a lot of great Christmas albums out there, with many a classic (and roasted) chestnut. But we’re keeping Nat King Cole and the Bing Crosby and the Harry Connick on the shelf this season. Instead, we’re spinning the Godfather himself. Mr. […]

Welcome to Grace, the only studio album ever recorded by Jeff Buckley. Recorded at Bearsville in Woodstock, New York, and released on Columbia Records August 23rd, 1994, Grace has attained legendary status since Buckley drowned in 1997. It was a bold debut from the son of folk singer Tim Buckley, full of involved arrangements and […]

It’s hard to remember it now, but in the early 80s, Paul Simon’s career and personal life had hit a low. His 1983 Hearts and Bones didn’t sell well and his marriage fell apart. A bootleg cassette of South African township music would ultimately lift him out of his depression and right his career. The […]

In the spring of 1962 America was still deep in the throes of segregation. Country music was an exclusively white man’s game; R&B music was black, and never the twain shall meet. But in April of that year, Ray Charles released Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music and tore down a number of those […]

Welcome to the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s Are You Experienced, perhaps the greatest debut album in rock history, containing some of Hendrix’s best known songs (“Purple Haze,” “Foxy Lady,” “The Wind Cries Mary” and his version of the Billy Robertson song “Hey Joe”). Recorded over five months and in three London studios, the album was released […]

Welcome to the quiet grace of Nick Drake, English singer-songwriter who suffered from major bouts of depression and died of an apparent suicide at age 26. In his all-too short life, he released three stunning albums, the final of which we present tonight. Pink Moon was released on Island Records on February 25 1972. Clocking […]

Every once in a while, we at the Collective present an album that needs no introduction. Most of us likely have our own experiences with and stories to tell about Rubber Soul, The Beatles’ tenth studio album, released at the end of 1965. That’s part of what led us to this bluegrass retelling, to shine […]

Released in 1971, Blue is Joni Mitchell’s fourth album and considered by many critics to be among the best albums of all time. The content is introspective and revealing. Many songs deal with love and relationships. It feels like Mitchell is holding nothing back. Indeed rumor has it Kris Kristofferson said upon first listen, “Joni! […]

Welcome to Songs in the Key of Life, Stevie Wonder’s 1976 release on Motown Records. This double LP, his 18th release, is the bestselling album in his massive catalog. Wonder had a lot to live up to when working on this collection – he won the Grammy for best album in 1974 and 1975. Still, […]

Lineup Yani Mo Adan Bean PRISCA Lola Cole Cleveland Jones Side A 1.Intro-Lude Adan 2.Creep Cleveland P. Jones, Lola Cole, Prisca 3.Kick Your Game Prisca, Adan, Yani Mo 4.Diggin 5.Case of the Fake People Cleveland P. Jones 6.CrazySexyCool (Interlude) Lola Cole, Yani Mo 7.Red Light Special Prisca 8.Waterfalls Cleveland P. Jones Side B 9.Intermission Lude […]